Lin Xiuer was stunned by what he said, and then a strange sense of grievance welled up inside her.

How could I not have you in my heart? You're all I think about!

Although she has been trying her best to suppress her feelings these days, can she really control the feeling of liking someone?

If she weren't afraid of death, or if she didn't have so many concerns, just for his face, his figure, and the deep affection he inadvertently revealed for her, she would have pounced on him and taken advantage of him eight hundred times over!

Why wait until now to have him question me?

Lin Xiuer looked at the man in front of her with red eyes.

He was more than a head taller than me, but at this moment he looked like a large, abandoned dog.

Despite his overwhelming fighting prowess, he looked at her with those wet, reproachful, and sad eyes, as if she were a truly heinous and heartless man.

Reason told her to stay calm, to explain, and to continue to coax him.

But her emotions were like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins.

Perhaps it was the pent-up emotions of the past few days, perhaps it was the shock just now, or perhaps it was his damnably soft and alluring appearance at this moment...

In a moment of impulsiveness, Lin Xiuer threw all her worries and fears to the winds.

She suddenly stood on tiptoe, reached out and hooked her arm around his neck, pulling him down forcefully—

Then, she aimed a hard kiss at his beautifully shaped lips, which were slightly pouting because of his anger!

This is your own fault. I've already tried my best to suppress my feelings and not take advantage of you! It's you...it's you who forced me into this!

The moment their lips touched, they both froze.

Time seemed to stand still for a second.

His lips were softer than she had imagined, warm and gentle, and his clean, refreshing scent was captivating, making her reluctant to leave.

A few seconds later, Lin Xiuer suddenly came to her senses, quickly let go of her hand, took a step back, her face instantly burning hot enough to fry an egg, and her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.

She twisted the hem of her clothes helplessly, lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye, and dared not linger any longer. She turned around and tried to run away.

But her wrist was firmly grasped by a warm and strong hand.

Ping An stood there, all the anger, grievance, and sadness on her face frozen in that unexpected kiss, then slowly melted away.

He looked at her flushed cheeks, her evasive eyes, and her expression of trying to act fierce even though she was clearly ashamed.

Something quietly lit up deep in his eyes, and a smile returned to his lips.

He tightened his grip and gently pulled her back to his side, while his other hand remained firmly on the cart.

Without saying a word, he simply took her hand and started walking again.

His steps remained steady, but were noticeably lighter than before.

Lin Xiuer was led by him, looking down at their intertwined shadows. Her face was still flushed, but her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

It was nearly noon, and the sun was shining brightly overhead. The early summer heat was already quite intense, and the sunlight made one's skin feel hot.

Fortunately, the air was humid, and mountain breezes blew in from time to time, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, which dispelled some of the stuffiness.

The narrow official road winds through the hills, with terraced fields carved out of the terrain on both sides.

The early rice seedlings in the fields have turned a vibrant green, standing neat rows in the tranquil water. A gentle breeze ripples across the surface, creating layers of green waves.

In the distance, rolling, dark green mountains stretch upwards to the horizon. Nearby, the hillsides are covered with dense shrubs and fir trees.

Fortunately, there were few pedestrians on the road at this time, only their overlapping shadows, which shrank into a short ball under their feet.

The wheels creaked monotonously as they rolled over the sun-hardened road surface. The clear chirping of birds echoed from the forest, mingling with the babbling of streams flowing from the fields.

Lin Xiuer looked down at their clasped hands. The man's hands were warm and dry, and she could clearly feel the thin calluses on his palms and his strong, well-defined knuckles.

Compared to my own hands, which, although thinner from recent hard work, are still quite chubby...

The ripples in her heart caused by the impulsive kiss had not yet completely subsided when another question that had been bothering her for a long time quietly emerged.

She hesitated for a moment, her fingers fidgeting nervously in his palm, her voice tinged with apprehension: "Husband, is it true? You don't mind my extra weight?"

Ping An didn't stop walking, but upon hearing this, he turned his head to look at her with some confusion, his gaze falling on her lowered eyes: "Why do you ask that, my wife? No matter how fat or thin you are, you are still my wife."

Lin Xiuer didn't expect him to ask that question. She looked up and met his clear gaze. Her inferiority complex made her blurt out the answer.

"Don't you think I'm ugly? I'm so fat, like a pig."

She said this in a lower voice, with a hint of self-deprecation.

Unexpectedly, these words caused the man, who had been keeping a straight face and pretending to be serious, to involuntarily raise the corners of his mouth and finally chuckle softly.

The laughter was soft, yet it was like a spring breeze brushing across ice, instantly shattering his carefully maintained facade of life.

"My lady, you overestimate yourself."

With a mischievous smile in his eyes, he deliberately dragged out his words, "Pigs, all they have to do is stay in their pens all day waiting to be fed, and then they sleep after they've eaten their fill. How idyllic!"

"Where would one need to work like this, getting up before dawn to knead dough, prepare ingredients, push a cart to sell, and deal with street ruffians? Pigs can't compare to this kind of hard work."

Lin Xiuer was stunned at first, then felt both ashamed and angry. She forcefully pulled her hand back and punched him with her fist.

"Well, you've got some nerve! You really can't spoil a man. I only gave you a little leeway, and you've already taken advantage of me! You even dare to laugh at me! Take this!"

Ping An steadily pushed the cart with one hand, his body nimbly dodging her chaotic attacks, which looked more like coquettishness to him, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

Seeing that he easily dodged, Lin Xiuer became even angrier and pretended to hit him again.

"Alright, alright, stop fooling around." Seeing that she was really getting angry, Ping An quickly suppressed his smile, put down the stroller, and raised his hand to hold her hand that was pounding on his chest, preventing her from moving around.

He turned to face her, the playfulness on his face fading, replaced by an unusual seriousness.

"I was just joking with you, my wife." He looked at her, his gaze calm and focused. "What I really wanted to say was that you are the best wife in my heart."

"My wife is quick-witted and decisive, able to save people in times of crisis. She is also very skillful, able to turn ordinary ingredients into delicious food."

"Moreover, he is kind-hearted and cares for his family. These qualities make him seem more real and approachable to me than the bodhisattvas in the paintings."

He paused, then softened his voice further: "As for your appearance, my wife, that's not the most important thing. Besides, doesn't my wife know that you're not ugly at all?"

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